sRGB vs Adobe RGB printing advice needed

Hi Guys

I am getting confused about what colour space settings to use when I give CDs of images to clients. I am shooting in sRGB, adjusting the RAW files in iPhoto in a Mac and then converting to JPEG. When I check the image information for these JPEGS, the come up as RGB not sRGB. Why are they changing to RGB from sRGB ? My understanding is that sRGB is a safer colour space format to give to clients as RGB gives washed out reds. I am about to do some printing tests at various high street printers (only because I think many clients will get some prints done at high street providers as soon as they get their images).

In short what is your work flow for colour space?

Jono.

I do Adobe 1998 but not sure its right. I'm just doing it cause Kelby says to in his book.

RGB doesn't specify a precise color space, it's a class of color spaces. If you shoot in sRgb I doubt iPhoto would convert it to anything else. My recommendation to anyone asking the "sRgb or Adobe RGB" question is to use sRgb unless they know exactly why and how to use color spaces. If you don't understand the words embedding, assigning, converting, and gamut, then you don't know enough to use aRgb effectively.

sRGB, unless you absolutely know you need to deliver Adobe RGB - most high-street labs (and home inkjet printers) will require sRGB for best match.

Rob

Just did some test prints in a kodak kiosk machine, and the reds have definately suffered. Although I shot in sRGB, I think maybe I missed an opportunity to keep the images as sRGB (I'm new to this so if I'm missing the obvious please say) when I converted the RAW files to JPEGS in iPhoto. I am going to go back to a 'better' lab at lunch and see if its a setting in the kiosk machine or error on my part in the workflow. I know that a pro lab will give different results, but I know that some people will use highstreet printers, and I need to have confidence in what I am giving them. Jono.

You have to deliver client images in sRgb, there's no other option, given they could print anywhere and a lot of places assume sRgb. With Adobe RGB you might be able to see a little more color, but if they print it and sRgb is assumed the color will look bad. Go sRgb.

Jono A wrote in post #2391284
Although I shot in sRGB, I think maybe I missed an opportunity to keep the images as sRGB (I'm new to this so if I'm missing the obvious please say) when I converted the RAW files to JPEGS in iPhoto.

If you're shooting RAW, then setting sRGB in-camera is merely a wish - same as setting white balance - the camera records the same information to RAW regardless.

Some RAW conversion software will look at these 'wishes' and make initial settings accordingly, other software will completely ignore them. So you need to ensure that your RAW conversion software is either preserving your sRGB wish, or has been set to output sRGB at the point of export to JPEG, TIF or whatever.

I'm not familiar with iPhoto, but if it's not an obvious on-screen setting, you should find a global setting lurking somewhere in the preferences or options.

Rob

Jono A wrote in post #2390770
Hi Guys

I am getting confused about what colour space settings to use when I give CDs of images to clients. I am shooting in sRGB, adjusting the RAW files in iPhoto in a Mac and then converting to JPEG. When I check the image information for these JPEGS, the come up as RGB not sRGB. Why are they changing to RGB from sRGB ? My understanding is that sRGB is a safer colour space format to give to clients as RGB gives washed out reds. I am about to do some printing tests at various high street printers (only because I think many clients will get some prints done at high street providers as soon as they get their images).

In short what is your work flow for colour space?

Jono.

I've had the same problem of finding out after I've done Unsharp Mask and saving. I sent all the files to the lab, and it advised me that I had given them and RGB file, although I was sure I had transposed it to sRGB. I've not look through my workflow yet to see why, because, my last step now is making sure that I'm sRGB before sending it to lab or client.

The only reason I would have to keep the files in RGB is because of my in-home Epson printer. If I print to my Epson, I use RGB files as recommended by Epson.

Can anyone explain the difference between RGB and sRgb to me? I've read the Bruce Fraser color book but i'm still not an expert. I don't remember reading "RGB" in that book without it being used as a general term or prefixed by "s", "Adobe", or "Profoto" etc.

If you are shooting RAW, the in camera color space isn't really applied. It's only applied upon conversion. Your conversion software is probably defaulted to aRGB.

tim wrote in post #2397322
Can anyone explain the difference between RGB and sRgb to me? I've read the Bruce Fraser color book but i'm still not an expert. I don't remember reading "RGB" in that book without it being used as a general term or prefixed by "s", "Adobe", or "Profoto" etc.

My understanding is same as yours Tim - RGB is just a group of colourspaces, or a 'mode' ...in Photoshop context you can work in RGB or CMYK modes depending on where you're output is going ...and when in RGB mode you can set your specific RGB colourspace (sRGB, Adobe RGB, etc.).

Rob